Scientifically, The Best Ways To Prepare For Final Exams

Finals week can be a stressful time for all students–I know it is for me. So, knowing how to properly prepare for finals is the key to avoiding stress and acing every single one of your exams. Of course, all students would love to relax by receiving massages or by the healing power of dogs before finals (I sure would!).

But, we all know this isn’t really possible. There needs to be a uniform way to assess our performance as students and it has to happen at some point (hence, “finals”). So how else can we lower stress and know that we’re on the right track to excel in each course? Well, here are some proven methods that will have you focused and better prepared for final exams.

1. Say NO to cramming: Study in intervals! Studying in 20-50 minute increments and giving yourself 5-10 minutes in between is more beneficial than cramming. Distributing learning over time typically benefits long-term retention more than a short period.

2. Say YES to cardio: Science says that just 20 minutes of cardio can improve your memory. Whether you’re dancing, jogging or busting a sweat by walking,exercise will increase your energy level and reduce the effects of stress. Very important!

3. Eat superfoods/antioxidants: Everybody knows you should eat breakfast the day of a big test. Research suggests that high-carb, high-fiber, slow-digesting foods like oatmeal are best (oatmeal is more fulfilling than cereal). But what you eat a week in advance matters, too. When 16 college students were tested on attention and thinking speed, then fed a five-day high-fat, low-carb diet heavy on meat, eggs, cheese and cream and tested again, their performance declined. The students who ate a balanced diet that included fruit and vegetables, however, held steady, says Cameron Holloway, a senior clinical researcher at the University of Oxford. When you study, your brain consumes glucose, so take a five-minute break every hour to let your body produce more fuel for your studying. Eating a healthy snack is very beneficial and can make a significant difference (almonds, fruit, and yogurt are good choices).

4. Alternate study spots: Shake up your finals routine! Spending all night in the library can be draining.According to the New York Times, simply alternating the room where a person studies improves retention. In an experiment, psychologists found that college students who studied a list of 40 vocabulary words in two different rooms — one windowless and cluttered, the other modern, with a view on a courtyard — did far better on a test than students who studied the words twice, in the same room. Why? Supposedly, the brain makes subtle associations between what it is studying and the background sensations it has at the time. Try alternating your study spots between the library, a study room, and a quiet coffee house.

5. Time management: Cramming causes anxiety, which lowers your ability to retain information. By creating a balanced study plan and schedule, you will be able to study each subject in its entirety and ultimately boost your test performance.

6. Avoid the all-nighter: Almost every college student pulls an all-nighter, but it is a bad idea. Based on a 2008 study by Pamela Thacher, Associate Professor of Psychology at St. Lawrence University, all-nighters impair reasoning and memory for as long as four days. As a result, you will receive lower grades. But that’s not all; you would then be forced to wake up earlier than expected–and that’s bad too. According to Dan Taylor, director of a sleep-and-health-research lab at the University of North Texas, this will interfere with rapid-eye movement (REM), which aids memory. So, get a good night’s sleep and expect to perform better on tests. (Quick tip: Review the toughest material right before going to bed the night before the test. It makes it easier to recall the material later, adds Taylor!)

7. MINIMIZE distractions: Research shows that while many teens prefer to study while listening to music, texting friends, or watching television, they are less likely to retain information that way. If you must listen to music, stick to instrumental music and consider downloading these study tools to keep you focused!

8. MAXIMIZE practice-testing: You may have thought highlighting, re-reading and summation would be effective ways to study. Think again! A 2013 study, Improving Students’ Learning With Effective Learning Techniques, found that these techniques do not consistently boost students’ performance. Practice testing through the use of flashcards, or taking practice exams was observed to be a highly effective studying technique.

My Masters Exams are round the corner and this tips will surely help me to bring the best of me and everyone who read this blog. 6th point “Avoid the all-nighter” is for me. i always study whole night but now i have to change my habit. thanks a lot for sharing the best way to prepare in finals.! 🙂

My son is getting to the point where he’s going to start needing to take the ACT and the SAT so that he can get into college. The problem is that he is terrible at taking tests. He can learn things just fine, but tests just aren’t his thing. So, I like your tip to take practice exams because they help to boost performance. Still, I think that I’ll find him some formal test prep before he needs to take them.

Thanks for the awesome advice! I’ve written a very similar post on my website except the only difference you have more coverage around food and exercise.

One thing I’d like to point out, if you’re studying for exams, you should have small breaks in while studying to give your brain a break from lengthy concentration periods. But then again, this might not work for everyone.

I used to highlight entire pages in my chemistry textbook and summarize each section in the margins, thinking that would help me, but I still scored low on tests. No more cramming for me! I’m going to be taking more practice tests and making lots of flashcards.

Thank you for this helpful article on the best way to prepare for exams. These tips will help the students a lot and ease their mounting tension before the exams. I am looking forward to reading more interesting posts in the future.

Thank you for posting this informative blog on the best ways to prepare for final exams. This blog will certainly help a lot of students in charting their study schedule and scoring the maximum marks in exams. Most of the times students neglect their health in order to read more during exams. It is necessary that they maintain a healthy lifestyle and follow a healthy sleep pattern. Looking forward to reading more interesting articles in the future.

what about the happy hour ? you know that time you are really in the mood? People are different. Research shows that many people have a good mood in the morning and others at night. So the rules may apply differently.

Proven, cramming will never going work at all. It happened with me when I was in class 5th. Let me tell you what exactly happen when you cram. It will never let you understand your subject the biggest difficult thing also distracts your mind. So yes its better to say no cramming.

Thanks a lot, your tips are great, yet it’s much more easier for me to study in the evening and at night, since i am a night owl. i think there are many people who have the same biorhythm. Anyway, the article is very interesting.

if the is only a small time also with full interest and concentration we can study properly by understanding.parents can say anything but u r going to face the exam.its your choice that how to read.all the best.

The tips are great but how do you attack ALL 6 subjects for finals when the finals are taking in the same week? Do I study each subject for an hour, a day or what? I seems to cram everything at once and its not working for me.

thanks for giving an extraordinary tips for examination.I like the sixth one.Because most of students are trying to finish the portion. so they want study during night also .but this will be affect badly to the next day

What most people don’t realize is that studying and learning should never be too difficult. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you what it’s like. You know the feeling: you go to class, get a ton of homework, then spend hours and hours reading over your notes, trying to memorize everything in a mad panic before your next exam. Not only is this stressful, but studying this way is both time consuming and a huge waste of energy. But the good news is, studying doesn’t have to be this difficult. In fact, if done correctly studying and learning should be a pleasurable experience. It shouldn’t be hard and it should probably take you less than half the time you’re already spending. So how is all this possible?

I like the first point. It is the most important of all of these. Take a break after studying for about 20-25 minutes. The main reason behind this is that an average student can’t hold up his /her concentration for more than 25 minutes. And I have created an infographic on this subject, check it out > http://thegateexam.in/study-time-vs-concentration/

I used to highlight entire pages in my chemistry textbook and summarize each section in the margins, thinking that would help me, but I still scored low on tests. No more cramming for me! I’m going to be taking more practice tests and making lots of flashcards.

These are some very great tips! However, you forgot to mention using memory exercises which stores even more information while studying! These eight steps is definitely Good wisdom and the reader should heed to what the page is saying. Thank you for these tips and Merry Christmas Everyone!